Once a month since last April the Rainbow Café has been open in the church during the afternoon as a social meeting place for anyone who is available for a cup of tea, some cake and a chat with a variety of people.
Gillian Gay from Beckenham Park, along with a group of helpers run the Café. She says:
“I think we are still in the process of building it up but we are trying to make sure that the church is open to attract people to come and make friends. We hope to expand it with more customers. So far we have attracted 35 to 45 people a month of which about a third are children.”
Tea, coffee and a selection of cakes and savouries are on offer and a special deal is available for children who can choose five items which must include a sandwich and fruit juice for a bargain price of £1. Toys are also available for children to play with.
Tea, coffee and a selection of cakes and savouries are on offer and a special deal is available for children who can choose five items which must include a sandwich and fruit juice for a bargain price of £1. Toys are also available for children to play with.
Special attractions have included face painting, pass the parcel and Mr Fizz the magician to entertain children with magical tricks, while background music creates a relaxing atmosphere for visitors to eat, drink and chat at tables set up in the church.
With Gillian Gay as the main organiser six ladies cook and prepare the food while seven others help. These include residents such as Carol Clackett from Ham Green, Sue Rossiter from Chaffes Lane, Pat New from Church Farm Road, Sylvia Roberts from Horsham Lane and Jean Carter from The Poles.
Most of the people who attend the Café have positive comments about it. Pat New says:
“It's very good for mums before they pick up their children from school.”
Reverend Mark Ham from Oak Lane thinks it's good for the church. He says:
“It opens the church up to the wider community and attracts people who may not usually come so we can give them the message of Christ with hospitality and friendship.”
Takings are used to fund the Café each month and also to support children to attend school in Uganda, a project set up by Leslie Ambrose who runs a church there. So far the Café has proven to be successful with the hope that more residents including children will attend in future months.
The next Rainbow Café will take place in St. Mary's Church on Thursday the 8th of September from 2:30pm to 5:00pm.
David Wood
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